Author Archives: Erik Smith

Rep. Drew MacEwen’s Legislative Update: June 3, 2015

With the second special session of 2015 underway, negotiators in the House and Senate continue to work on a final budget for the 2015-17 biennium. Both budget proposals on the table make historic investments in education, mental health services and address other critical funding priorities. The debate remains how to pay for these priorities – using existing revenue or increased taxes. There is no debating, however, our priority remains fully funding K-12 education.

We received another positive economic revenue forecast in May. The latest forecast again showed there is no need for the tax increases being proposed by the House majority party. In fact, Gov. Inslee has backed off his massive tax proposal and The Seattle Times has written tax increases this year are unnecessary. The House majority party, however, continues to insist on a $550 million capital gains income tax. I don’t believe this is the right direction for our state. Rather, we should prioritize spending and live within our means.

Throughout the special session, I have visited schools across our District and met with teachers and students. Many voiced their concerns about education funding in the 2015-17 budget. I can tell you your voice has been heard loud and clear in Olympia. The budgets proposed by the House and Senate increase K-12 education funding by nearly 18 percent – a historic investment in basic education that reverses years of inadequate funding.

With this substantial investment, we continue to address the McCleary ruling and fulfill our paramount duty as laid out in the state constitution. In fact, $1.3 billion has been proposed to address McCleary which includes increased funding for K-3 class size reduction ($350 million), all-day kindergarten ($190 million), and maintenance, supplies, and operating costs ($740 million). The Senate Capital Budget also includes funding to build 2100 new classrooms in the state to meet class-size reduction needs.

I have also heard from a number of you on the issue of teacher COLAs. I am a strong supporter of reinstating the COLA and have been disappointed the House majority party withheld the voter-approved raises for teachers over the past several years. This year, I am happy to report both budget proposals include teacher COLAs. These are the important investments I will continue to fight for in the budget.

While I remain hopeful a compromise can be struck in the coming days, I hope the work we do in Olympia will embrace the urgency felt by many people in our community. We must fulfill our duty and finish our work as soon as possible.

Governor signs bills into law:

House Bill 1636 requires state agencies with more than 100 employees to issue a report on the number of persons with disabilities employed. The idea for this bill was brought to me by a constituent last year and helps identify work force opportunities for those with disabilities at state agencies. It passed the Legislature unanimously.
House Bill 1749, another constituent request bill, ends the requirement for homeowners working on their house to “flip” it to register with Labor and Industries as a contractor. Labor and Industries levied large fines against homeowners who made these types of improvements without registering as a contractor. Not only is this an unfair requirement, it hinders economic growth. I am happy it passed the Legislature unanimously.

A third bill, Senate Bill 5893, was also signed into law. I sponsored the House version of this bill which clarifies the laws regarding amateur hockey players in the state and exempts them from the Minimum Wage and Industrial Welfare Act. Amateur hockey teams have been operating in Washington since the 1970s and there was strong bipartisan agreement that amateur athletes do not work for junior hockey league teams in the same way the Zamboni driver does. This clarification will allow junior hockey teams in the state to continue to offer young athletes development and educational opportunities as well as continue to contribute to the economic growth of their community.

New district office

I am excited to announce the opening of our new district office. The office is located inside the North Mason Chamber building at 30 NE Romance Hill Rd Suite 101, Belfair. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8-5 p.m., or by appointment.

I believe people deserve elected officials who are accessible and responsive to their needs. I’m looking forward to helping people navigate state government and listening to their concerns and ideas to strengthen our community.

I hope you will continue to contact me with your questions, concerns and comments on the budget and other issues important to our state. If you would like me to visit your community group, school or business, I am always available to do so. I enjoy spending time in our community hearing directly from you. Please contact my office to make arrangements.

Rep. Drew MacEwen opens Belfair office

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, has opened a district office in Belfair. The office will serve as a local resource for constituents in need of assistance with state government.

“I am excited to once again have an office in our community,” said MacEwen. “I believe people deserve elected officials who are accessible and responsive to their needs. I’m looking forward to helping folks navigate state government and listening to their concerns and ideas to strengthen our community.”

The office is located inside the North Mason Chamber building at 30 NE Romance Hill Rd Suite 101, Belfair. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8-5 p.m.

Residents can reach MacEwen’s district office by phone at (360) 277-5363 or email at drew.macewen@leg.wa.gov.

Reps. MacEwen and Stokesbary file resolution to begin drafting articles of impeachment against Troy Kelley

State representatives Drew MacEwen, R-Union, and Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, filed a resolution that would begin the process of impeaching Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley. The resolution establishes a committee to draft articles of impeachment relating to Kelley’s malfeasance in office. The resolution charges include, but are not limited to: the abandonment of his office, improper delegation of the powers and duties of his office to an unelected official, failure to perform the duties of his office, and the willful neglect of the duties of his office.

Kelley was indicted by a federal grand jury last month on 10 felony charges. He declared a leave of absence on May 4 and delegated authority to Jan Jutte, an unelected employee of the State Auditor’s Office, with no set return date.

“This is a sad day in the history of Washington state. Through his actions, Troy Kelley has put his own self interests ahead of the citizens of Washington,” said MacEwen. “Delegating the operations of the State Auditor’s Office to an unelected official is unacceptable and not up to the standard of the office he swore an oath to lead. This is not a reflection on Ms. Jutte or her service to the state, it is an indictment of Troy Kelley willfully neglecting his duty. Kelley continues to ignore requests to resign from his own party leadership, including Governor Inslee, and he has left us no other choice but to act to restore accountability to the State Auditor’s Office.”

Stokesbary joined MacEwen in introducing the resolution and is concerned by Kelley’s indefinite absence. He failed to respond to a letter from Stokesbary asking when he would return from his leave of absence.

“By delegating the entirety of his authority to an unelected employee of the State Auditor’s Office, for indefinite duration, Troy Kelley has violated his oath of office and constitutional duty. He has not heeded the unanimous calls for his resignation, so the only alternative is for the Legislature to exercise its constitutional responsibility to remove him from office,” Stokesbary said. “Kelley’s job was to hold government agencies accountable; he cannot avoid accountability for his malfeasance by simply passing the buck. He has doubled down on his blatant attempt to run out the clock. Establishing a committee to draft articles of impeachment is the first step toward restoring the public trust in the State Auditor’s Office.”

Article V of the state constitution outlines the authority and procedure for impeachment. A constitutional majority, or 50 votes, is required to send the articles of impeachment to the state Senate where a trial would be conducted. A two-thirds majority vote by the Senate is required for removal from office.

The impeachment committee would consist of six members of the House of Representatives, made up of three members from each caucus, with the Speaker appointing the members from the majority caucus and the Minority Leader appointing the members from the minority caucus.

The committee would then have to present the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives.

Invest in Mason County’s future by building a diverse economy

Last week, the top story around town was the recently announced sale of Simpson Lumber to California-based Sierra Pacific Industries. Timber has been the bread-and-butter of our regional economy for more than a century, employing generations of Washingtonians and building our expanding nation. The Simpson family has invested in our community for the past 125 years, and I am grateful for their contribution.

Those of us in Mason County, and many others across timber-rich Washington, are closely connected to our logging heritage. Whether it’s cheering on the Highclimbers, celebrating Forest Festival, or taking pride in a larger-than-life Paul Bunyan parading down Railroad Avenue, forestry is part of the fabric of our community. I believe we will carry these proud traditions well into the future.

Many, though, are calling the Simpson sale the “nail in the coffin” for Shelton and Mason County. And while job losses are difficult to absorb with Mason County’s unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent, I have an unwavering belief in the people of this community. With Sierra Pacific’s commitment to build a new state-of-the-art mill on Shelton’s waterfront by 2017, we have an opportunity to revitalize the city and usher in a new era of timber production and economic growth.

We should also take this opportunity to invest in a diverse economy that will meet the needs of generations to come. This begins in the Legislature with fully funding education and providing career and technical education opportunities for students. Additionally, we must enact B&O tax reforms, including those I proposed earlier this year, to simplify and modernize a tax code that is a barrier to economic growth.

Locally, we must attract new businesses to Mason County and develop planning codes that are fair, flexible and allow for competition in the marketplace.

Most importantly, we must come together as a community to support those affected during this time of transition. I am committed to working with all parties to ensure they are connected to critical resources and are able to meet their obligations in the weeks and months to come.

We must not miss this opportunity to strengthen and diversify our economy. With the right investments, I am confident Mason County’s best days are ahead.

Together we can build a bright future for Mason County.

Reps. Griffey and MacEwen helping to coordinate job fair following announcement of Simpson Lumber mill closings

Thirty-fifth District state Reps. Dan Griffey and Drew MacEwen say they are working with Mason County community leaders to coordinate a job fair following Simpson Lumber’s announcement Tuesday that it would be closing its mills in Shelton. The mills are being sold to California-based Sierra Pacific Industries, which says it will not continue to operate them, but instead build a new mill in Shelton that’s expected to be operational sometime in 2017.

The news comes on the heels of an announcement last month by Shelton-based Olympic Panel Products that it was being bought by Swanson Group Manufacturing and relocated to Springfield, Oregon.

“The announcements from Olympic Panel Products and Simpson Lumber are devastating for many families in Mason County,” said Griffey, R-Allyn. “Drew and I are working hard to bring community leaders together in order to quickly find new jobs for the employees of both companies. We look forward to continuing to work with the Mason County Economic Development Council, as well as other groups, to help mitigate the impact of these closures.”

Founded in 1890, Simpson Lumber is one of the oldest forest products companies in the Pacific Northwest. The company produces Douglas Fir and Hemlock dimension lumber used in home construction.

“Simpson is part of the fabric of our community and has employed generations of Mason County residents,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “I am grateful to the Simpson family for 125 years of investment in our region. Mason County is and will continue to be a resilient community, and I am looking forward to bringing resources together to help those affected by the mill closures. I am hopeful Sierra Pacific will continue the tradition of investing in our community, and through the building of a new, modern mill in Shelton, contribute to a new chapter in the economic growth of our community.”

Griffey and MacEwen encourage any business owners who are hiring to contact their legislative offices or send an email to Lynn Longan, executive director of the Mason County Economic Development Council.

Reps. MacEwen and Stokesbary file bill to address leaves of absence by elected officials

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, pre-filed House Bill 2249 which would consider an elected office vacant if the officeholder takes a declared leave of absence for reasons other than health or military duty. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, and will be officially introduced on the first day of the special session scheduled to begin April 29.

“With Auditor Troy Kelley taking a leave of absence to fight his federal indictment, we are left with a leadership void in a critical government agency,” said MacEwen.

“Even after his own party leadership, including Governor Jay Inslee, called for him to resign, he has remained committed to staying in an office he is unfit to lead. While I believe he is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence, he has shown with this leave of absence that he is unable to come to work. A leave of absence to fight federal charges is unacceptable. Though I appreciate Governor Inslee’s attempt to withhold pay from the auditor during his leave, it does not change the fact that the auditor is not able to show up to work because he is facing federal felony charges. I once again call for him to resign his position immediately so the people of Washington can choose his replacement,” he said.

Stokesbary noted the importance of restoring public trust in the State Auditor’s Office.

“In light of Auditor Kelley’s federal indictment for tax fraud and obstruction, it is clear he is unfit to lead the very office tasked with maintaining public trust in state government,” Stokesbary said.

“Since the beginning, Troy Kelley has engaged in a blatant attempt to run out the clock on his term. We believe Kelley will be effectively vacating his office on May 1, even if he insists on labeling it a leave of absence. The citizens of Washington deserve an auditor who is able to show up for work every day focused on maintaining efficiency and transparency in state government, not one who hides from the public while he fights a federal indictment,” he said.

The special session is scheduled to last up to 30 days.

Bill sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen becomes law

A bill sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, to make it easier for homeowners to make improvements to their property for the purpose of selling it became law today. House Bill 1749 ends the requirement for homeowners working on their house to register with Labor and Industries as a contractor in order to “flip” it. Those who did not register could have faced fines for failure to comply.

“I’m pleased to have this bill signed into law. It addresses concerns brought to me by constituents and eliminates unnecessary regulations,” said MacEwen. “Having homeowners register as contractors or face steep fines from L&I is not just an unnecessary burden, it hinders economic growth. Home ownership is still the cornerstone of the American dream, and bureaucratic red tape like this adds to the cost of buying a home. Washingtonians deserve a government that does not look first to fine its citizens, but rather seeks to facilitate their success.”

MacEwen was joined at the signing by residents of the 35th District who proposed the idea for House Bill 1749. He went on to say he welcomes ideas for legislation from all constituents.

“I believe the best ideas often come from our communities, and I encourage constituents to share those ideas with me. Together, we can build a smarter, more efficient state government that does not stand in the way of growth and prosperity,” he said.

House Bill 1749 will take effect 90 days after the 2015 regular legislative session adjourns.

Rep. Drew MacEwen joins in call for auditor to resign

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, has joined with leaders in Washington state and called for Auditor Troy Kelley to resign. The auditor was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on 10 counts allegedly stemming from his business practices prior to and during his time as auditor. The indictment comes in the wake of a federal subpoena and search warrant served last month.

“I am disappointed that Auditor Kelley did not heed the call of his own party leadership, including Gov. Inslee, to resign from his position,” said MacEwen. “While I respect the presumption of innocence and his right to due process, I believe elected officials should be held to a higher standard. Auditor Kelley should resign in order to restore public trust and accountability to the very office charged with maintaining those cornerstones of government.”

“Given the seriousness of these allegations, and the public trust at stake, I am reviewing the options available to the Legislature should the auditor choose to stay in office,” said MacEwen. “Again, this comes down to accountability and being able to fully and faithfully discharge the duties of his office. I believe it is clear he can no longer carry out the duties of auditor, and we must work to restore public trust.”

If Kelley resigns or is removed from office before May 10, a special election to fill his seat would occur in November.

Rep. Drew MacEwen’s Legislative Update: April 10, 2015

Last week, we were presented with two visions for Washington’s future. On one hand we saw a vision that is built on new and increased taxes. On the other, a vision built on prioritized spending and respect for taxpayers. These visions were laid out in the form of the House and Senate operating budgets, and will drive the discussion in Olympia over the last few weeks of the 2015 regular session.

The budget proposed by House Democrats passed the House on a 51-47 vote along party lines last week. While I am pleased this budget addressed priorities such as mental health services and restores teacher COLAs, and did not include Governor Inslee’s carbon tax plan, I have several concerns and voted against this vision for our state’s future.

This budget will hurt our recovering economy and is not in the best fiscal interest of Washington state and the 35th District. The plan increases spending by nearly 15 percent over the current biennium. Further, this budget does not balance without raising taxes on the hard-working people of Washington state. This is especially concerning given a $3 billion increase in revenue for the 2015-17 budget cycle. Given this growth in revenue, I believe we have the means to pass a responsible, sustainable, and balanced budget without relying on tax increases.

Increasing taxes should be a last resort, but this plan includes $1.5 billion in new and increased taxes. Many of you have contacted me and asked why government wants to increase taxes when revenue collections are up and our economy is slowly recovering. You’ve also told me that government should prioritize spending and live within its means just like families all across the state. I agree with you, and believe raising taxes will affect Washington’s ability to compete economically. It’s clear to me that Olympia does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem.

Unemployment remains an issue in Washington state, especially outside of Seattle, and is higher than the national average. In fact, in Mason County unemployment is hovering just under 10 percent. We need a spending plan that will unleash our economy, spur family-wage job growth and ensure Washington state is competitive for generations to come. We don’t achieve this by adding to the tax burden of low and middle-income families and job creators. We do this by effectively prioritizing spending and investing in the future.

The House majority party proposed ten tax increases which they say are necessary to fund basic education under the McCleary decision. But their proposals, including a tax on capital gains income, bottled water, online sales, and increases to the state’s B&O tax, fail to meet an important requirement of McCleary. The Supreme Court ruled basic education must be funded using “regular and dependable sources of revenue.” Taxes can and have been repealed by Washington voters in the past. Just a few years ago, Washington voters repealed the bottled water tax with a 60 percent majority. These taxes are neither regular nor dependable, and I believe we can do better.

A better option passed the Senate earlier this week. This option shows how state government can meet its obligations, fully fund education, improve mental health services, restore cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for teachers and other state employees and reduce college tuition without raising taxes. I believe this is the better vision for our state.

Now that both the House and Senate have passed their budgets, the hard work of negotiating a final budget begins. We have until April 26 to complete our work and I believe it can be done. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will work hard to ensure residents of the 35th District will not be forgotten in this budget process.

Belfair Bypass update:

This week, the House passed its transportation maintenance and operations budget. I introduced an amendment to allocate $15 million for the Belfair Bypass. This would help continue the project and hopefully spur its completion. I was disappointed this amendment was rejected by the House majority party. As such, I could not vote for a transportation budget that does not include this critical infrastructure improvement project in our district. I remain a strong supporter of the Belfair Bypass and I am actively investigating other funding options for this project. I will continue to fight for it to be completed because I believe it will greatly benefit our region, both in congestion relief and economic development.

Congratulations Mason Transit!

I was honored to spend some time in Shelton to help dedicate the new Mason Transit Authority community center last week. It was one of the first projects I was able to work on and secure state capital budget funds for, and I am excited to see the positive effect it will have on revitalizing Shelton’s downtown. It was great to join with so many friends and neighbors to showcase the result of years of hard work by so many people in our community, especially Brad Patterson and his team at Mason Transit. This community transit center is a welcome addition to Shelton and will benefit the public for years to come.

Keep in touch:

As we approach the end of the 2015 legislative session, I encourage you to contact me with your questions, concerns and comments on the budget and other issues important to our community. I am looking forward to getting back to our district for the summer and fall. If you would like me to visit your community group, school or business, I am always available to do so. I enjoy spending time in our community and hearing directly from you. Please contact my office to make arrangements.